This is a profound story that can be easily told to the young ones. Remind your listeners that there is no one superior to another except in terms of taqwa (piety).

Allah says (transl.): “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has al-taqwa (i.e., is one of the muttaqoon/the pious). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [al-Hujurat 49:13]

The Messenger of Allah also said in his famous sermon: “O people, your Lord is One and your father [i.e., Adam] is one. There is no superiority of the Arab over the non-Arab, or of the non-Arab over the Arab, or of the red over the black, or of the black over the red ““ except with regard to taqwa.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad)

The Leper, the Bald Man & the Blind Man

Narrated Abu Huraira, that he heard Rasulullah saying:

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala willed to test three who were a leper, a blind man and a bald-headed man.

So, He sent them an angel who came to the leper and said, “What thing do you like most?” He replied, “Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me.”

The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin.

The angel asked him, “What kind of property do you like best?” He replied, “Camels (or cows).” (The narrator is in doubt, for either the leper or the bald-headed man demanded camels and the other demanded cows.) So he (i.e. the leper) was given a pregnant she-camel, and the angel said (to him), “May Allah bless you in it.”

The angel then went to the bald-headed man and said, “What thing do you like most?” He said, “I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsion for me.”

The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked (him), “What kind of property do you like best?” He replied, “Cows.” The angel gave him a pregnant cow and said, “May Allah bless you in it.”

The angel went to the blind man and asked, ‘What thing do you like best?’ He said, “(I like) that Allah may restore my eye-sight to me so that I may see the people.”

The angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his eye-sight. The angel asked him, “What kind of property do you like best?” He replied, “Sheep.” The angel gave him a pregnant sheep.

Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the (three) men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley.

Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, went to the leper and said, “I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none will satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given you such nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination.”

The man replied, “I have many obligations (so I cannot give you).”

The angel said, “I think I know you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Were you not a poor man, and then Allah gave you (all this property)?”

He replied, “(This is all wrong), I got this property through inheritance from my fore-fathers.”

The angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.”

Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did. The angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.”

The angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said, “I am a poor man and a traveler, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you yourself. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eye-sight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey.”

The man said, “No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my eye-sight; I was poor and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you for taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allah’s sake.” The angel replied, “Keep your property with you. You (i.e., the three men) have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions.”

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2 Comments

Bismilla
Assalaam Alaikum Dear Sister,
masha Allah you are the best reading. Subhan Allah I really enjoy reading your words. Sister I also am an avid reader so I have read probably about half of this site and several others of yours today and you have had me: teary, crying, giggling, laughing, feeling guilty (from you naasehah) and my imaan lifted to a very wonderful level. Masha Allah May Allah reward you so much and place you, your beloved father, children, husband and other family all in the highest of the highest Paradise together forever. Amean

I love your story telling masha Allah what a blessing Allah has bestowed on you to share and on me to find, Alhumdulillah. Jazzakallhu khariun. I want to add links in my childrens section of my web site to your stories insha Allah soon. I think your dad would be so grateful to Allah Ta’ala even more then he was when he was alive if he could see how beautiful, well mannered and highly intelligent you truly are. Masha Allah. May Allah always keep you and those close to you well and on the straight path. Amean